National Republican., 1887-08-10

laid any mains NJ ali, for had no connection
Whatever with the office until June D, 1856,
less than month before tho expiration OF tno
year, aud simply compiled the data from the
records.
Tie records show that the money expended
during the year in layirg the LBS feet ui l2-
inch, fg feet of l0-lnCn, 70, l22 feet OF 6.lncn,
and 6,G23 feet of 3.inch pipe, 4i5u ieet ia all,
was S2l ,Ol6.SL or not quite 10 cents per foot,
which. however, does not ropresent tn9 enLre
cost Of the pipe rs laid, because some pipe pur-
chased and paid for the preceding vear'was
sill further, It is "charged" that 10 the year
ending June ~, 1885, according to the report Oi
Lieut.. Townsend and superintendent MELON.
aid, the cost OF G inch mains was three
times the cost OF laying mains In 1871 under
the old dispensation, and "56 cents per f0Dt
more than II cost Capt. Symons the year fol-
lowing" The absutdty of these assertions
is evidenced by considering that II such were
the case, IN the one instance the cost would be
three times 90, or $40, aud IN the other
el.221S plus t0.b6, or 81 7S1f.
The facts are that. during the fiscal year
lsS4-'s5 there were laid 9s5 feet of i2-inch pioe
277G0 feet Of G-inoh pipe, 3oS feet Of l-iuoh
pipe, and ds6 feet OF Inch pipe-2g BIZ feet In
an-at n total expenditure OF siI0ii.i5, or
about g SO per loot. This again does not rep.
resent the actual cost Of laying the mains, and
the cost per foot Is excessive for the very reas n,
that the Oost per yenr on the following year is
too small-that II, large amount of pipe pur.
chased during the year was left over aud laid
during the succeedngy year. The total amount
OF pipe laid during the two years was a., llj
feet at a total expense of s6SOJl ~. or 80 cents
1t is proper also to state that dtiflng the year
1es6-'6T there was some pipo laid which was
purchased and paid for two years before
caFe a ME Sa ReS OF he pr
the past year show that the average cost per
foot of 6inch pipe was about 75 cents, aud of
Pinch Pipe about s2,22, including materials
and labor at the current prices for the year.
IL is further enlarged" that "it is evident
that water rents have been taken TO make up
the deficiencies In funds that have been stolen
or misappropriated for the benefit of other
fur d." Theio is no, nor can there be, the
| shadow Of truth In or foundation for this reck.
| less and slauderJus asset on.
Every dollar OF revenue of the water depart.
| ment Is collected by the collector of taxes aui
| by him dc po tied in the United s ares treasury
| from whence II Is drawn out and disbursed by
the auditor In conformity with the apptoprio-
| lections or disbursements is handled by any
| official of the water department Every expen-
d,tnIe has hrst to be approved by the Commits.
sioners, and every voucher. therefore, has 70
| pass the scrutiny not only OF the District OIL
cials, but of the auditor and comptroller of the
| Unit, States treasury.
In gard to the defalcatlon TO which 8,
| much reference has been made, have only to
say that II Is matter well known to all old
officials OF The department aud District, as well
as other citizens. that when Timothy Lubey
| (wbo succeed ded J. II. Crane as registrar, col
lector, and discussing officer of the water de
| partmenD died in 1877 It was discovered that
/ u
sible, could not be accounted for, resulting In
| a shortage of 2o,2sl, ,06. Examinations to de-
| teTmiDe the exact amount OF the detalcation
| were undertaken, Tut the collection Of tbs
| amount was not pursued for the reason tn Al
| tho man was without estate aud his bonds
worthless. The matter was one Of public record
and knowledge at the time. and there was nc
| effort Of any kind to conceal the facts 10 the
case. The report o: the investigation is on tllc
| In tho District records.
know of no reason why the present Of
Gf n I'm nj ghs,fl n
desire to conceal the facts concerning th'i
transaction or any other, whether OF the pre-;
ent or ancient date. II was probably the ex
istence Of tn Is and other irregularities and the
loose methods of doing business and absence
Of system that encouraged defalcations, and
rendered change In the form OF government
| necessary.
There are doubtless many men in the Dis
trict who, for the opportunities 1t would give
them, desire change 70 the old systems aud
methods, " ben in one single individual were
comprised the functions of bookkeeper, col
lector and disbnrsing officer of the water de
| partment. With regard to the assertion thai
as the number of water takers increases the
receipts grow less" II Is only necessary TO say
ten years and and treb'ed In fifteen years
have the honor to state further that worh
| is in progress and Is being finished as rapidly
as the current business of the office will per
NIT, In preparing q full and comprehensive
exhibit of the financial affairs Of the watei
will be ready for my annual report to you.
| have prepared the statements herein. aut
submit them to you prior to the submission o
the full exhibit, because believe enough 4
and ALLEGATIONS OF fraud and stealing, ant
set the public mind at rest Very respectfully
your obedient servant, 7. W. SYMoSs,
Captain of Engineerp.